My One Year Transformation (pics)

Alright guys, any comment critiques, etc are welcome.. I am 6'8" tall and 23 yrs old. I played 4 yrs varsity basketball through high school and was in phenomenal shape, but completely fell off track in college. I went over 4 years with very little physical activity. Last May, that all changed..
First up are my starting pics. Immediately below are pics taken yesterday.

***EDIT: As promised updated pics. Attached is the first. The rest will be up on Friday. I'm not where I want to be, and I've had setbacks but then I look at my starting pics. I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE.

Thanks everybody! I'm going to slowly start a clean bulk phase. Now that I've shed a good bit of fat, I'd like to add some muscle. I have to be careful to keep my diet clean enough that I don't blow my progress.

One thing I'm proud of is that even though I didn't gain strength (after the initial month back), there was ZERO loss in strength the past 11 months while steadily dropping weight.

Great job man thanks for posting your pics. You look a few years younger now than a year ago. I'm sure you'll be an inspiration to many here. +Reps for your awesome transformation keep up the good work.

Thanks again everybody. Any suggestions on a workout for a bulk? I know I should be working compound movements. I have to say though being 6'8", my long a$$ arms make it hard to push heavy weight

I have to agree that some of the heavy stuff is tougher to move with longer limbs (I am only 6' tall, but I have noticed the same dilemma when doing squats and bench press), but keep at it, the strength comes with time. I have to constantly remind myself that I am only twenty four and my strength won't hit it's peak until I am in my early to mid thirties. If you start training hard now, you will be strong as **** in the future.:clean:

Thanks everybody! As I start bulking, I think I'm going to run less and jump rope more. I LOVE to jump rope and am damn good at it. :bruce2:

Just remember you gotta keep those calories above what you are burning off by doing your cardio. It's hard to watch yourself get soft after all that hard work to lose weight, but most people can't make serious gains without a bit of fat on 'em. I keep my cardio to 2 days a week when I am bulking, I only do that for blood pressure/general health reasons, not to stay lean.

Just remember you gotta keep those calories above what you are burning off by doing your cardio. It's hard to watch yourself get soft after all that hard work to lose weight, but most people can't make serious gains without a bit of fat on 'em. I keep my cardio to 2 days a week when I am bulking, I only do that for blood pressure/general health reasons, not to stay lean.

I know I've gotten into such a cardio groove, it's going to be hard to back off. I think the toughest part will be eating above maintenance calories, and keeping them CLEAN. I have no problem housing 4 - 5k calories but making sure its wholesome food and not crap will be the challenge.

I know I've gotten into such a cardio groove, it's going to be hard to back off. I think the toughest part will be eating above maintenance calories, and keeping them CLEAN. I have no problem housing 4 - 5k calories but making sure its wholesome food and not crap will be the challenge.

At least you know that. I have a few friends that go to the gym with me and don't understand why they can't see their abs, but they eat pizza 3 times a week. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good cheeseburger, but keep it to the cheat meals, and even then keep those sensible.

It IS hard though, these days not to get caught up in eating out especially as a young person with a social life.

Get used to eating brown rice and oatmeal... and a lot of it. Eating eventually becomes a mechanism when you get into the swing of things. I am at the end of my first real "planned" bulk. Put food in front of me and I become a machine... just put it on your plate and finish it. Cook healthy, and cook big... I try to cook a few meals at a time if I have the ability to, that way I don't have to bust out in the kitchen, my food just needs to be heated up... I think having to cook is what drives a lot of people to slouch on their diets. Eat red meat too, I don't know why, whether it is the iron or the zinc or what, but red meat makes me feel stronger and more like I am growing than white meats do. It could just be my imagination, but I swear by red meat when trying to get bigger... not as much when trying to cut down.

At least you know that. I have a few friends that go to the gym with me and don't understand why they can't see their abs, but they eat pizza 3 times a week. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good cheeseburger, but keep it to the cheat meals, and even then keep those sensible.

It IS hard though, these days not to get caught up in eating out especially as a young person with a social life.

Get used to eating brown rice and oatmeal... and a lot of it. Eating eventually becomes a mechanism when you get into the swing of things. I am at the end of my first real "planned" bulk. Put food in front of me and I become a machine... just put it on your plate and finish it. Cook healthy, and cook big... I try to cook a few meals at a time if I have the ability to, that way I don't have to bust out in the kitchen, my food just needs to be heated up... I think having to cook is what drives a lot of people to slouch on their diets. Eat red meat too, I don't know why, whether it is the iron or the zinc or what, but red meat makes me feel stronger and more like I am growing than white meats do. It could just be my imagination, but I swear by red meat when trying to get bigger... not as much when trying to cut down.

Ya man i feel that way with the red meat too. I thought it was just in my head but i just feel bigger and stronger in general after eating red meat.

At least you know that. I have a few friends that go to the gym with me and don't understand why they can't see their abs, but they eat pizza 3 times a week. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good cheeseburger, but keep it to the cheat meals, and even then keep those sensible.

It IS hard though, these days not to get caught up in eating out especially as a young person with a social life.

Get used to eating brown rice and oatmeal... and a lot of it. Eating eventually becomes a mechanism when you get into the swing of things. I am at the end of my first real "planned" bulk. Put food in front of me and I become a machine... just put it on your plate and finish it. Cook healthy, and cook big... I try to cook a few meals at a time if I have the ability to, that way I don't have to bust out in the kitchen, my food just needs to be heated up... I think having to cook is what drives a lot of people to slouch on their diets. Eat red meat too, I don't know why, whether it is the iron or the zinc or what, but red meat makes me feel stronger and more like I am growing than white meats do. It could just be my imagination, but I swear by red meat when trying to get bigger... not as much when trying to cut down.

I LOVE oatmeal. I've been eating the following as my preworkout meal for the past 4 month's on my cut (with the help of P-Slin):

Me too dude. I eat a bowl 3 times a day. Easiest, fastest way to get your carbs in... for me at least. One of the rare healthy things you can prepare with just a microwave. Plus you can make it taste like anything you want (or nothing , like I prefer half the time) w/out adding too much unhealthy sugars/fats.

Me too dude. I eat a bowl 3 times a day. Easiest, fastest way to get your carbs in... for me at least. One of the rare healthy things you can prepare with just a microwave. Plus you can make it taste like anything you want (or nothing , like I prefer half the time) w/out adding too much unhealthy sugars/fats.

Ah the microwave. Don't forget you can poach eggs in the microwave too. I couldn't believe it when i first saw my wife do this... I'd been skipping breakfast for so long (before I started working out) until I found you can scramble eggs in there, lol.

Just scramble your eggs up with a half shell of water, heat for a minute, stir, heat for another 30 seconds or as long as it takes to finish (just eyeball it). if you dont take them out and stir at least once, they'll blow up on you.

Ah the microwave. Don't forget you can poach eggs in the microwave too. I couldn't believe it when i first saw my wife do this... I'd been skipping breakfast for so long (before I started working out) until I found you can scramble eggs in there, lol.

Just scramble your eggs up with a half shell of water, heat for a minute, stir, heat for another 30 seconds or as long as it takes to finish (just eyeball it). if you dont take them out and stir at least once, they'll blow up on you.

Haha, funny story about eggs. I had eaten too many one morning about 3 weeks ago I was at the gym and lost my stomach during some squats. I only made it to the trashcan... and some girl who was doing abs on the bench behind me had to make her own run for the bathroom after seeing me lose it.

I couldn't help but laugh. Finished my workout too... I haven't seen her since. Whatever. I like my gym empty anyway, more weights no waits.

Last edited by GMG760; 05-14-2008 at 03:18 PM.
Reason: forgot to put that I had eaten eggs and thats what I lost my stomach to.